Giving at Work Can Improve Your Work Situation
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BananaStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Maybe there really is something to this “It’s better to give than to receive” stuff that many look at with a certain degree of skepticism.
Researchers at Duke University and elsewhere discovered that when workers are given a bonus to specifically pass along to a colleague or charity, it seems to boost morale as well as sales.
The findings were based on a number of studies, including one from an Australian bank where workers who donated most or all of a $50 voucher to a charity on behalf of their employer reported feeling more happiness and job satisfaction than those who weren’t as generous or just kept the bonus.
In another instance, members of Canadian sports teams and Belgian pharmaceutical sales teams were told to use $20 each on themselves or on a teammate. When the bonuses were given to others, each team’s performance excelled over those who held on to the money.
Duke researcher Lalin Anik suggested that workers who behave more altruistically create a more satisfying and productive work environment.
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